How To Sell Your Home

Selling your home can be far less stressful when you understand the process, so we have provided a 12 step guide to make the process as stress free as possible

Step 1 – Accurate Valuation

How much is your home worth?

The first task when putting your home on the market is to obtain an accurate valuation. At Andrew Craig one of our experienced Valuers will give you a Free Property Appraisal, where we will assess the current local property market to give you an accurate valuation to ensure that your home will sell for the best price possible and within a time scale to suit your needs.

Step 2 – Choosing an Estate Agent

When choosing an estate agent to sell your property, it is important to consider a number of factors. These include local reputation, the experience and training of staff, the location and presentation of the local branch, what marketing your property will receive, and branch network coverage. These factors are all critical to obtaining the maximum exposure and price for your property. Once you instruct us to market your property, you will then sign our contract, legally binding us to the sale of your property.

Andrew Craig has 25 years’ experience in selling property across Tyne And Wear, and are widely recognised as one of the leading Estate Agencies in the North East of England.

Step 3 - EPC

All properties to be sold are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This shows how much energy a building uses. An EPC can help home owners reduce their energy bills and live more sustainably by making their home more energy efficient.

When you choose Andrew Craig to sell your home, we will then organise a government-required Energy Performance Certificate on your behalf, if you do not already have one, as your property can not be put on the market without one.

Step 4 – Instructing a Solicitor

You should now think about instructing a solicitor, to help avoid delays further down the line. We would encourage you to have a quote from our solicitor at this stage, as part of our moving plan.

Step 5 – Establishing the Cost of Moving

You should work out how much it is going to cost for you to move. If you are also buying a property then you should receive financial advice to see how much you can increase your mortgage by. Andrew Craig Independent Mortgage Advisors will be able to offer you guidance with this.

Step 6 – Presentation of Your Property

The presentation of your property is very important, especially giving a good first impression so you should aim to present your property in the best possible way. Some things you should consider addressing are tidying up the garden, making sure the external walls and front door are painted, and decluttering rooms to make them appear larger.

Our professional staff will then come out to your property to take high quality photographs of your property and write a comprehensive property description for your property’s details.

Step 7 – Marketing Your Property

We give your property maximum exposure across a wide range of media, including:

-on the Andrew Craig website, and the major property portals, Rightmove and OnTheMarket

-in our prominent High Street Branches, through in branch wall displays and window LED displays

-'For Sale' boards outside the property

-Direct communication with buyers that we have registered with us that we think would be interested in your property

Step 8 – Viewings

We offer both accompanied and unaccompanied viewings, as some owners prefer to show people around their home themselves.

Take on board the feedback that you receive, if all the feedback points towards a particular issue – do something about it.

Step 9 – Receiving an Offer

We will take care of offers and negotiations on your behalf and we aim to negotiate the best price from the right buyer. Once an offer has been received, we will inform you both verbally and in writing, and you will then decide whether to accept the offer or not. This may depend on any conditions of the offer, and the buyer's ability to proceed.

Step 10 – Sale Agreed

Once a sale has been agreed your property will be Sold Subject to Contract and you will need to instruct your conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal side. We will then write a memorandum of sale, write to both parties confirming the agreed price, and ask for a confirmation of your solicitor's details.

Your sale will then go through Sales Progression undertaken by our staff, who will keep you informed every step of the way.

Step 11 – Exchanging Contracts

Exchange of contracts takes place after the non-refundable deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price) is transferred from the buyer's solicitor to your solicitor, and all the legal work has been carried out. Contracts are then signed and exchanged. From this point both parties are legally bound to go through with the transaction.

Your completion date will normally be set at this stage.

Step 12 – Completion and Moving Day

Completion day can be stressful for all concerned, especially if you’re part of a chain, but as the final step in selling in your property it means that the worst is over and you can take some time to celebrate. Completion happens when the rest of the funds have been transferred from your buyer's solicitor's bank account to your solicitor's account. Your keys will then be released to your buyer!